Jonathan Frederic De Santos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong visit the site or a rockshed in Tuba, Benguet on Aug.24, 2025. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756008462614GzFWad-aEAA3Dwh.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong visit the site or a rockshed in Tuba, Benguet on Aug.24, 2025. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>TUBA, Benguet (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Sunday lambasted what he described as a &quot;useless&quot; rockshed infrastructure project in this town, after seeing a portion of it had already disintegrated following landslides and rockslides in the past few months. </p><p>In a chance interview with reporters, Marcos Jr. said the government could file &quot;economic sabotage&quot; complaints against those involved with the project, which he said costs P264 million. </p><p>&quot;Talagang hindi tinrabaho nang mabuti ito. Dahil ang ginawang slope protection supposedly dito ay bumigay kaagad. Pati ang slope protection na nandiyan na hindi ginawa ay bumagsak dito,&quot; Marcos, Jr. told reporters.</p><p>&quot;Mabigat, nasira ang kalsada, ngayon nakita ngayon namin ang erosion sa ilalim ng kalsada – which is the most important part – ay wala na. Na-erode na. Ang ginawa nilang protection wall ay ubod ng hina, ubod ng liit,&quot; he said. </p><p>Residents and other officials have pointed out that the protection slope was destroyed following the rockslides and landslides brought about by the recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon. </p><p>But Marcos Jr. said the rockshed project &quot;had no effect whatsoever as to protect the slope.&quot; </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/24/ridon-house-may-include-infra-projects-like-cabagan-bridge-benguet-rock-shed-in-probe-1607">READ: House may include infra projects like Cabagan Bridge, Benguet rock shed in probe -- Ridon</a></div><p>&quot;Parang walang ginawa. Wala silang tinayo, wala silang ginawa na wall, wala silang nilagay na riprap. Wala silang ginawa na slope protection. Ganoon din ang nangyari. Ang balor ng kanilang trabaho ay zero, complete zero,&quot; he said. </p><p>The President said the rockshed is a vital pathway for those going to and from Benguet, but because of the structure&#x27;s integrity, trucks and other vehicles chose not to pass through this anymore. </p><p>&quot;Ang feedback natin from the mayor... The effect on businesses, because of this, noong nagsara ito, hindi na magamit ito. In terms of business, 35 percent is the number, 35 percent kaagad ng kanilang hanapbuhay ay nawala dahil dito... It is not only the physical damage that we could see, it is the damage to the economy,&quot; he said. </p><p>To solve this and prevent future situations from happening Marcos Jr. said there should be an &quot;acceptance&quot; from the local government, meaning, they would decide if the project was useful and acceptable in the area – something that local officials no longer do. </p><p>&quot;This is P260 million-project. Useless. Parang tinapon mo ang pera sa ilog. Useless. To correct this will cost double that. That is my top of the head estimate. P500 million ito para ayusin, at least,&quot; he said. </p><p>Arnold Dacwag, head of DPWH-CAR&#x27;s planning division, agrees with the president that the project has been rendered useless, but clarified that the repairs, including that of the protection slope, would only cost P100 million and not P500 million as the President earlier claimed. </p><p>&quot;Ang project is rockshed and ang purpose is to catch any falling debris. Falling rocks... In 2018, there was an assessment by the bureau of design central office.... Nag-start last January and completed in April this year,&quot; said Dacwag.</p><p>&quot;It took three years na makumpleto. May mga problema during construction kaya tumagal nang ganoon,&quot; he added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/24/lawmaker-no-sense-to-allot-zero-budget-for-flood-mitigation-in-2026-1613">READ: No sense to allot &#x27;zero budget&#x27; for flood mitigation in 2026 -- lawmaker</a></div><p>Dacwag clarified that the eroded protection slope is not part of the rockshed project. </p><p>&quot;Ang kailangan sana dito to protect – the total length is 248 meters. But sadly, ang dumating na pondo is good for 151 meters. Yun lang ang na-construct. In 2023, we tried to request an augmentation fund to complete the 248 meters pero walang dumating,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Yung pag-erode na ito ay out of control. Ang piannggalingan ng landslide is taas. It&#x27;s not even part of the project, it&#x27;s not part of the right of way so yung malalaking bato na tumipak sa existing slope protection – was constructed in 2000. 15 years na yung life ng slope protection. But then again yung malalaking bitak ng bato sa taas, yun ang sumira,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVx4z7_TqLc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday called a P264-million rockshed in Tuba town "useless" and described it as "economic sabotage."</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday called a P264-million rockshed in Tuba town "useless" and described it as "economic sabotage."

Marcos Jr. says 'useless' P264-million rockshed in Benguet is 'economic sabotage'

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Marcos Jr. says 'useless' P264-million rockshed in Benguet is 'economic sabotage'

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 24, 2025 12:30 PM PHT

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Updated August 24, 2025 06:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Tuba

Benguet

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Infrastructure projects

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